I've been on a documentary bender the past few days. I've started threads about documentaries I've seen in the past, and I'm on record saying that Planet Earth and WWII in HD are the best things ever put on television.

I've seen a couple documentaries recently that really left a profound impact on me. Maybe you've seen some you'd like to talk about? Or maybe you just want to piddle around late at night. This is your thread.

1. I saw "Crisis: Behind A Presidential Commitment" on some channel called Pivot a few days ago, about John F. Kennedy enforcing the integration of the University of Alabama over the segregationist civil disobedience of its then-governor, George Wallace (almost certainly at the behest of his constituents).

This was pretty okay. The story it told didn't have a lot of chapters to it: the federal court decision that mandated integration isn't discussed, nor is any of the other fallout surrounding school integration in the south. This confrontation was entirely civil; there was no violence or use of force. Here's the entire movie: Kennedy wonders if Wallace is going to stand in the way of school integration at U of A, Wallace does, so Kennedy nationalizes the Alabama Guard and there you have it: school integrated.

What's really awesome about this documentary (and it's really old, made in 1963) is it has almost zero voiceover commentary. You are seeing everything happen as history unfolds, as cameras tape Kennedy sweating bullets in the Oval, and Wallace mouthing off to a federal representative as he stands in front of the entrance to his school, blocking it off.

This happened about 50 years ago. That is absolutely ****ing insane, that we've gone from segregation to total integration in such a small amount of time. A public divided on an issue so important became a public overwhelmingly in support of it. So much can happen in such a small amount of time. These were people that mostly look like us, dress like us, and talk like us. This is not ancient history. And we're at each other's throats over increasing gas mileage standards for cars. These people were talking about treating black people equally. Makes our fights seem small by comparison, if you ask me.

2. I saw "Blackfish" tonight on CNN, after months of wanting to see it at my local arthouse theater but never getting a chance to. This movie's about the gross negligence of aquatic amusement parks (SeaWorld, SeaWorld, and SeaWorld) for their criminally negligent treatment of killer whales.

I think the most amazing thing about this documentary is how ****ing amazing orca are. These are creatures that are the sizes of school buses, the intelligent capacity of humans, and what seems like an emotional capacity that far exceeds humans. It's really stunning, the things this documentary reveals about these gigantic mammals.

Mainly it follows the exploits of this one orca they call "Tillicum" from his capture at sea to his confinement in a tank that's simply impossibly small for a creature of his size. The fact that they store a ton of these things together in the same tank is revealed as absolutely insane: they're a lot like people from all over the world, and when you just cherry pick them, separate them from their families, and throw them into what must feel like a bathtub to them with a bunch of others who they can't talk to, can't understand, and don't trust, bad things happen.

Namely, trainers get attacked, mutilated, and occasionally even killed. And of course you see all the deliberate actions from SeaWorld to keep churning out product even in light of this danger.

Mostly, for me, this film really illustrates what it's like for us to abdicate our responsibility to take stewardship over the earth. Humanity simply does not have the resources to adequately care for these creatures: they span hundreds of miles a day, and require more stimulation and social interaction than we are capable of providing. These are incredibly social creatures apparently, and we are placing them in underwater jail cells.

I'm a religious person, and I can't help but think of this as a sin. I don't think you have to be religious to feel like the animals that share our world deserve moral treatment, and that aquatic amusement parks like SeaWorld are absolutely abdicating this responsibility with killer whales.

Anyway. That's my rant. What kind of mind-expanding documentaries have you seen recently?

Yeah, the last one third devolved into a promotional video for the Sound City Sessions record. The worst part was that while the new songs with those artists were sonically phenomenal, the songs (outside of Rick Springfield's), IMO, were lame.

But otherwise, it was great that Dave captured the spirit of Sound City with this doc. And yes, it truly was a shit hole.

I like how they talk about the brewery on Roscoe, I drive by that thing every day and yup it smells like shit.

I like how they talk about the brewery on Roscoe, I drive by that thing every day and yup it smells like shit.

When I first went to Sound City, I couldn't believe what a ****ing dump it was and how all of those great records had been recorded there. Compared to Ocean Way/Cello/East West, Third Stone, The Mix Room, etc., it was a steaming pile of shit.

But that Neve console was the bomb and drums recorded in that room are instantly identifiable. It's sad that it's gone.

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Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Geno taught me something, and that's not to get too high on guys like Mahomes.

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Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Also Trubisky completely soured me during his Bowl game. Do not want. As for Mahomes, i would be shocked if a good QB ever came out of that school. The best TTU QB of all time (in NFL terms) is Billy Joe ****ing Tolliver.

One thing about Kizer: I think Notre Dame was so much of a shitshow, overrated program that he could have some untapped potential in a more stable environment. I like his talent the most out of all these guys.

My amityville horror (interviews with the actual kid, now grown, who survived the house, and who the story was based off of). Very interesting.....and very sad....as the guy is a mess now psychologically.

I watched this documentary a couple weeks ago about Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love...I believe it was titled, "Kurt and Courtney." Holy shit, were they harsh on Courtney...her own father was even harsh on her...basically the documentary's primary goal seemed to be to prove that Courtney Love is an awful person, if not responsible for Kurt's death.

Speaking of Courtney...say what you want about the bitch, but holy shit she can WAIL!!! I never listened to the band, Hole until a month or two ago...Courtney always drove me nuts...always thought she acted like a dipshit and it made me want to avoid Hole's shit.
I was basically in a state of desperation to find some music I hadn't heard before that I actually like. I downloaded a couple songs from their "Live Through This" album and eventually the album in its entirety and holy shit, I don't think I've ever been more pleasantly surprised by anything. That woman has some freaking pipes...and I love some of the lyrics in the songs. IF those songs were written by her (I know there is debate about this), then I will just flat-out say that I believe she is a phenomenal artist who doesn't receive acknowledgment for it due to being such a skoochie.

I watched this documentary a couple weeks ago about Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love...I believe it was titled, "Kurt and Courtney." Holy shit, were they harsh on Courtney...her own father was even harsh on her...basically the documentary's primary goal seemed to be to prove that Courtney Love is an awful person, if not responsible for Kurt's death.

Speaking of Courtney...say what you want about the bitch, but holy shit she can WAIL!!! I never listened to the band, Hole until a month or two ago...Courtney always drove me nuts...always thought she acted like a dipshit and it made me want to avoid Hole's shit.
I was basically in a state of desperation to find some music I hadn't heard before that I actually like. I downloaded a couple songs from their "Live Through This" album and holy shit, I don't think I've ever been more pleasantly surprised by anything. That woman has some freaking pipes...and I love some of the lyrics in the songs. IF those songs were written by her (I know there is debate about this), then I will just flat-out say that I believe she is a phenomenal artist who doesn't receive acknowledgment for it due to being such a skoochie.

1. She's a talent but a complete assbag as a human being.
2. No, she did not write those song.
3. Yes, the records were really well done and enjoyable, if you dig that genre.
4. There isn't anyone that I know or know of that doesn't think she contributed to Kurt's death.

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Geno taught me something, and that's not to get too high on guys like Mahomes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Also Trubisky completely soured me during his Bowl game. Do not want. As for Mahomes, i would be shocked if a good QB ever came out of that school. The best TTU QB of all time (in NFL terms) is Billy Joe ****ing Tolliver.

One thing about Kizer: I think Notre Dame was so much of a shitshow, overrated program that he could have some untapped potential in a more stable environment. I like his talent the most out of all these guys.

1. She's a talent but a complete assbag as a human being.
2. No, she did not write those songs.
3. Yes, the records were really well done and enjoyable, if you dig that genre.
4. There isn't anyone that I know or know of that doesn't think she contributed to Kurt's death.

1.) I didn't know what to believe, but I'll take your word for it.
2.) Figures... Corgan? Kurt? Hell, to be honest, I feel out of place asking you that publicly on a message board... Kurt and Corgan are just my immediate assumptions...not sure if there is any validity...
3.) I dig fo sho, bro! Not sure if you dig that genre, but if so, are there any bands out there that you would recommend? (I've already tapped into many of them...some shitty, some awesome. Already familiar with Screaming Trees, AIC, Nirvana, Hole, Mudhoney, Mother Love Bone, Soundgarden, The Melvins, Mad Season, Temple of the Dog, Seven Year Bitch, Tad, L7, Seven Mary 3, PJ, SP, Gruntruck, some others...) The Melvins, Mudhoney and Gruntruck are the ones that stick out to me that I recall not liking.
4.) Noted. I didn't realize the reality of that...prior to viewing the documentary, I heard whispers about that here and there and always just kind of thought, "meh...probably a wild rumor." Seems pretty real to me these days.

What do you know about it? I was in Uni's music division when he was suing Geffen, which was owned by Uni.

I'd have sued Geffen, too.

Except for the fact that he's sued every record company he signed a contract with and paid him very well. Hell, Don Felder sued the band because Don and Glenn wrote up a contract that paid them 3X what other members were paid. Felder said, "**** that" and was fired. Felder won out of court. Don Henley is a ****ing douche. He's high and mighty until it's about the money.

Except for the fact that he's sued every record company he signed a contract with and paid him very well. Hell, Don Felder sued the band because Don and Glenn wrote up a contract that paid them 3X what other members were paid. Felder said, "**** that" and was fired. Felder won out of court. Don Henley is a ****ing douche. He's high and mighty until it's about the money.

Did you read those contracts? How do you know if he was paid well?

As a matter if fact, David Geffen owns the publishing on those Elecktra/Asylum releases. Do you have ANY ****ing idea what that means? If so, tell us. Because I sure as hell know.

Furthermore, Felder wrote parts of a few songs, had no solo career and in no way, shape or form was entitled to an even share of concert grosses. He sued for wrongful termination and they counter-sued, which was settled out of court.

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Geno taught me something, and that's not to get too high on guys like Mahomes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Also Trubisky completely soured me during his Bowl game. Do not want. As for Mahomes, i would be shocked if a good QB ever came out of that school. The best TTU QB of all time (in NFL terms) is Billy Joe ****ing Tolliver.

One thing about Kizer: I think Notre Dame was so much of a shitshow, overrated program that he could have some untapped potential in a more stable environment. I like his talent the most out of all these guys.

Furthermore, Felder wrote parts of a few songs, had no solo career and in no way, shape or form was entitled to an even share of concert grosses. He sued for wrongful termination and they counter-sued, which was settled out of court.

Oh yeah, and he participated for seven years before he was fired and there isn't an Eagles fan anywhere that has missed his presence on record or in concert.

Don Felder is a jackass. He should have kept his mouth shut and enjoyed earning millions per year PLAYING OTHER PEOPLE'S SONGS.

__________________

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Geno taught me something, and that's not to get too high on guys like Mahomes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammock Parties

Also Trubisky completely soured me during his Bowl game. Do not want. As for Mahomes, i would be shocked if a good QB ever came out of that school. The best TTU QB of all time (in NFL terms) is Billy Joe ****ing Tolliver.

One thing about Kizer: I think Notre Dame was so much of a shitshow, overrated program that he could have some untapped potential in a more stable environment. I like his talent the most out of all these guys.